"How come Hawkeye gets away with everything?" Whined Frank.
"Because he's a better surgeon Frank. Besides how could I say no to such a sweet face?" Henry replied. That shut Frank up. He stormed out of the office and also went back to the Swamp. He burst through the door and flopped down on his cot. He picked up one of his boots and started polishing it agressivly.
"Not so rough Frank, otherwise there won't be any boot left." Hawkeye joked.
"Shut up Peirce, what do you know?" Frank shouted.
"I think someone's jealous." Trapper commented. Shadow looked at Frank and understood why he was upset. Hawkeye had told her a lot about Frank, including that he was the most military man in camp. She got up off Hawkeye's cot and sat next to Frank.
"What do you want?" Frank snapped. Shadow cocked her head and looked at Frank in the cutest way she knew how. Frank glared at her for a little while then went back to polishing his boot. This time with far less agressiveness. Hawkeye and Trapper bit back their laughter. Shadow was a real little sorcerous. She could enchant anyone, even Frank.
Shadow went back to sit next to Hawkeye. Hawkeye smiled and put his arm around her shoulders. Shadow smiled back and rested her head on Hawkeye's shoulder. She was kind of tired from the night before. Shadow stifled a yawn.
"Tired?" Hawkeye asked looking down at her. Shadow nodded. Frank kept glancing over at Shadow wondering why she was so nice to him. Frank had no doubt that Hawkeye had told her any number of bad things about him. But she had sat next to him, and looked at him that cute way. Frank's heart just bubbled over, he was starting to like Shadow too. Not in a romantic way of course, but in a sort of fatherly way.
"Attention all personell, incoming wounded. And congratulations to Hawkeye Peirce on adopting Shadow!" The voice over the P.A. said. Immediatly applause could be heard all through the camp for Hawkeye's new daughter. Hawkeye bowed while coming out of the tent. Shadow laughed and walked after him.
"Stay with Radar, Shadow." Hawkeye said heading into the O.R. Shadow nodded her head and ran off to find him. Hawkeye and Trapper went into the O.R. to scrub. Shadow found Radar close to the casualties. She ran up to him.
"Dad told me to stay with you." Shadow said. At first Radar looked at her questioningly.
"Dad? Oh right! Hawkeye. Alright, go wait over by the animals ok?" Radar said. Shadow nodded and ran off. Before she did, she took a look at one of the wounded soldiers. He was groaning and twisting on the stretcher. He had a hole in his leg, and another one in his chest. Shadow cast him a sympathetic glance and ran off.
Shadow gently talked to the rabbits and petted them. One was a salt and pepper gray and big brown-ish eyes. She wished she could keep him. She took him out of the cage, held him close to her chest, and strocked his ears. Radar came up behind her silently.
"You like him don't you?" Radar asked quietly. Shadow jumped a little, but nodded. "He doesn't have a name yet, do you want to give him one?"
"I think he should be called Pepper." Shadow said. Radar smiled and nodded.
"I think so too. Pepper it is." Radar said. Shadow and Radar spent the rest of the time waiting for Hawkeye and playing with Pepper and the other animals. Radar could tell that Shadow really like Pepper. He was thinking about giving him to her. It would sure make her happy.
Three hours later Hawkeye and Trapper came out of the O.R., bloody and exhausted. Shadow quickly ran up to Hawkeye.
"Hi dad!" Shadow said.
"I still gotta get used to her calling me dad." Hawkeye said. He put his arm around shadow's shoulders. Shadow loved getting all this attention. She really wasn't used to it. They went into the swamp and crashed. Shadow was tired from her late night dream, and like I've already said Hawkeye and Trapper were worn out from surgery. It wasn't that late; in fact it was time for dinner. "Oh, I don't think my stomach can take another bombardment of food."
"Come on dad." Shadow said pulling on Hawkeye's arm.
"Alright, alright. I'm coming." Hawkeye groaned. Shadow, Hawkeye, and Trapper headed to the mess tent together. They got their food and sat at a table. It was now an unwritted rule that Shadow sat by Hawkeye. And this she did. She started scarfing down her food. Hawkeye and Trapper still didn't get how she could do that. Soon Henry came to join them.
"Hey, how's it goin' Shadow? Enjoying the life here?" Henry said.
"It's alright, but the food is terrible." Shadow replied.
"I'm inclined to agree with her." Hawkeye put in.
"Listen the reason I came over here was to ask where Shadow should stay. She can't stay in post-op, we need that room." Henry said.
"She'll stay in the swamp of course." Trapper said.
"Yeah, why not?" Hawkeye said.
"Are you guys sure? I mean she'll be staying in a tent of guys. I could put her in with Margret, or in the nurses tent." Henry said.
"I think we should leave it up to Shadow." Hawkeye said. He turned to face Shadow and asked, "Where do you want to stay?"
"I'd like to stay in the swamp, if it's ok." Shadow replied.
"Well, there you have it, she stays with us." Trapper clapped his hand on Shadow's shoulder.
"It's gonna be really crowded in there sweetheart. You sure?" Henry asked. Shadow nodded her head and resumed scarfing her meal.
"Alright. Hawkeye I'll leave it to you to get her settled." Henry started to pick at his own food.
"I wouldn't want it any other way." Hawkeye said. Shadow finished first. There was no doubt that she would seeing as she practically inhaled her food. She sat around waiting for Hawkeye.
"How do you do that?" Henry asked Shadow.
"Do what?" Shadow asked in return.
"Scarf down your food like that." Henry prompted.
"I don't like to taste it. The only way to get it down without tasting it is to swallow it as fast as I possibly can." Shadow replied.
"It makes sense, but I don't see where you get the courage." Henry continued.
Shadow smiled at him. "I don't look at it either." Henry chuckled a little.
"She sure is a find Hawk."
"One of a kind." Hawkeye agreed. They were only half way through eating. Shadow was staring out the window watching Radar feed his animals. Hawkeye could tell that she wanted to go out. "Go on. We'll be here til the end of the war." Shadow smiled at him and jumped up.
She ran outside to join Radar in his walk. Henry smiled and shook his head. Henry started to speak, "She sure is a cutie. You should be proud of her Hawk."
"I am Hen, I really am." Hawkeye replied staring out the window at Shadow as she walked with Radar. Hawkeye pulled the adoption paper from his pocket and stared at the name written on the paper. "Emma Jean Peirce"